Plains wandering and rocky rambling - Castlemaine Steiner ...
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Plains wandering and rocky rambling
Occasional newsletter for members and supporters of the Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park
Number 35 September 2019
Spring showers = wild flowers
Forest floor a sea of white and yellow
Following some showers, the floor of the Terricks Forest is largely covered by a sea of daisies and everlastings.
NATIVE WILDFLOWERS COVER THE GROUND IN THE TERRICKS FOREST
Photographer: Keith Stockwell
Spring rains have resulted in the germination of daisies, In this issue...
everlastings and other wild flowers both in the Terricks forest
Page 2: Wildflowers following showers
and grasslands.
Page 3: New signs in Terricks Forest
This issue, which is aimed at encouraging people to attend the
annual Friends of TTNP Weekend, includes recent photos taken Page 4: Bird irruption on the plains
in the park; it includes a copy of this year’s program and informs Page 5: Students visit Terricks grasslands
members of recent happenings in and around the park.
Pages 5 & 6: Grassland field day
This issue includes a report on a recent grassland field day, a
Pages 7 – 9: Terricks Weekend
report on a visit by a Castlemaine school and reports on an
irruption of chats, trillers and other birds. Page 14: Membership Information
Wildflowers bloom in the park Photos to inspire you to visit the park this Spring Recent showers have resulted in a variety of plants coming into flower, both in the Terricks forest and on the park’s grasslands. Grassland and forest walks are on the program for this year’s Friends of TTNP Weekend. Walks will include plant specialists and birders. See the wildflower display for yourself during our annual Friends of TTNP Weekend which is over the first full weekend of October (including the Friday afternoon/evening), 4th to 6th October. Photos above by K Stockwell. Photo below provided by Trust for Nature. Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, September 2019 Page 2
New road signs in Terrick Terrick Parks Victoria has erected new road signs in the Terricks Forest. Ranger Lauren Smith has played a major role in choosing the wording of the signs. As a result of the new signs, drivers should find it easier to navigate in the park. Photographs below taken by Keith Stockwell. Friends of the TTNP Newsletter September 2019 Page 3
Irruption of birds on the plains
During September, scores of birders flocked to “The Meadows” precinct of Terrick Terrick National Park. They were
attracted by reports of Crimson Chats (hundreds), Orange Chats, White-fronted Chats, Blue-winged Parrots
(hundreds), White-winged Trillers, Black-tailed Native Hens, White-winged Fairy-wrens, Rufous Songlarks and scores
of other bird species.
A similar range of birds were observed at other places on A visit to “The Meadows”
the plains around Terricks, including alongside Aird Road Text and photos by Dr. David Ong
(which runs between Mt Terrick Road and Echuca-Mitiamo I spent a couple of hours [on 19th September] at The
Road not all that far from “The Meadows”). In addition to Meadows to follow up Bernadette' Haywood’s report on
the chats and “usual suspects”, Banded Lapwings have been Birdline. Highly enjoyable - with numerous Crimson
observed alongside Aird Road. Chats and White-fronted Chats as well as Blue-winged
Parrots, Black-tailed Native-hens, Rufous Songlarks,
Those visiting the area are asked not to venture onto private White-winged Trillers as there were more Chats than
property and to avoid driving off roads: some chats have House Sparrows present, and more Blue-winged
been nesting in grass alongside Aird Road. Parrots than Galahs!
A visit to “Ghow Swamps”
Photos by Audrey Dickins
On 11th September, after helping prepare “Bernie’s Shed” for a
visit by some Castlemaine students, and after spending about
an hour birding with Keith Stockwell in the Terricks Forest,
Audrey Dickins and Sharon O’Brien returned home to Gunbower
via Box’s Bridge. They stopped at Box’s Bridge and observed
thousands of birds – mainly Ibis _ nesting in Ghow (Kow)
Swamp.
BLACK-TAILED NATIVE HEN AT ‘THE MEADOWS’
WHITE-WINGED TRILLER AT ‘THE MEADOWS’
NESTING BIRDS AT GHOW (KOW) SWAMP
Photos: Audrey Dickins CRIMSON CHAT AT “THE MEADOWS’
BLUE-WINGED PARROT AT ‘THE MEADOWS’
• Photos cropped by the editor.
Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, September 2019 Page 4Castlemaine Steiner School students visit
CASTLEMAINE STEINER SCHOOL STUDENTS IN “BERNIE’S SHED”
Photo: Keith Stockwell
During September, a group of students from a Castlemaine primary school, accompanied by several adults and
parents, spent several days on the Terrick grasslands.
After arriving at Pyramid Hill by train, students rode bicycles to “Jungaburra” where they set up their tents alongside
Bendigo Creek.
Jenny Spence set up chairs and a display in the Jungaburra shearing shed where she addressed the students.
The following morning, Wednesday 11th September, students rode their bicycles to the Davies homestead site. Parks
Victoria Ranger Tim Schwinghammer gave a presentation about native grasslands. He then led students onto
Possum Paddock. Later, the students visited another grassland paddock and drew some posters that are likely to be
on display during our Friends of TTNP Weekend.
Later that week, the students returned to Pyramid Hill where, after taking part in the “Students Strike for Climate Action”,
they visited the Pyramid Hill Museum before returning to Castlemaine by train.
Congratulations to teacher Lisa Hall, ranger Tim Schwinghammer and Jenny Spence for helping with the visit.
Thanks, too, to Audrey Dickins and Sharon O’Brien who helped Jenny clean chairs and prepare “Bernie’s Shed” ready for
the students’ visit.
Grassland field day not so unlucky
Attendees assemble on Friday 13th
On the morning of Friday 13th September, a grassland field day was held on the property of Judy and Andy
McGillivray, McIntyre Road TORRUMBARRY. About 25 people attended the event that was organised by Trust for
Nature in conjunction with DELWP and the North Central CMA.
Jenny Spence set up a display in a marquee and short addresses were given by a number of people, including Dr
David Baker-Gabb, Deanna Marshall and Faye Bail.
Faye gave out some Plains-wanderer badges that were designed by a Castlemaine artist and which sell at $18 each.
After the information session, participants were led on walk on the property. Formerly called “Brown’s Paddock”, a
129.5 hectare paddock has been set aside for protection of flora and fauna and renamed “Kirsten’s Paddock” in
appreciation of the work done by Kirsten Hutchinson of Trust for Nature. The McGillivrays will continue to own the
land and graze it conservatively. The paddock is known to support Plains-wanderers at times. A number of
endangered plants grow on the paddock. Kirsten pointed out and identified a number of grassland plants, most of
which were in bloom. No Plains-wanderers were observed during the grassland walk. What some thought might have
been a Plains-wanderer nest in a tussock clump was dismissed by Dr Baker-Gabb.
Grassland plants pointed out by Kirsten included Burr Daisy, Drumsticks, Swainsona procumbens, Swainsona
murrayana, Swainsona plagiotropis, Sorrel, Maireana spp, Goodenia spp, Woolly Buttons, Ferid Goosefoot, New
Holland Daisy (Vittadinia sp)
...continued/
Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, September 2019 Page 5Grassland field day (continued)
During the walk, Dr David Baker-Gabb told participants that song meters have been placed on a number of
properties in the area to help detect the presence of Plains-wanderers. The song meters are protected from cattle
and sheep by metal cages. David told us that the cages initially had rooves but these were removed because
Magpies were sheltering beneath the rooves on hot days and damaging the song meters.
DR DAVID BAKER-GABB ADDRESSING ATTENDEES ABOUT A SONG METER
THE SONG METER (IN A METAL CAGE) ON “KIRSTEN’S PADDOCK”
Photographer: Keith Stockwell
Plains-wanderers are one of the most threatened birds in Australia. A native grassland species, their biology is
unique: they are the only living member of the Pedionomidae family. Ornithologists have classified Plains-
wanderer as Australia’s most-important bird, and the fourth most-important in the world due to their genetic
uniqueness.
Over recent months, several Plains-wanderers have been observed on some of the grassland paddocks of Terrick
Terrick National Park.
Some of our members assist Parks Victoria’s Mark Antos with occasional nocturnal fauna surveys. If you wish to
see a Plains-wanderer in the wild, it is best to contact either Simon Starr (Firetail Tours) or Phil Maher (Australian
Ornithological Services) who run occasional Plains-wanderer nights. Phil’s sessions are usually on a private
property north of Deniliquin. Under no circumstances should you drive on the Terricks grasslands in the hope of
sighting a Plains-wanderer. And, in order to help protect this critically endangered bird, if you see a Plains-
wanderer, under no circumstances should you post the GPS co-ordinates on the Internet (or even the name of the
paddock on which you saw one).
Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, September 2019 Page 6The Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park
invite you to
a free weekend of activities in
Terrick Terrick National Park
2pm Friday 4th October to 1pm Sunday 6th October 2019
Davies homestead site, Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Road TERRICK TERRICK
DIAMOND FIRETAIL
Photo: Chris Tzaros (“Bush, Birds and Beyond”)!
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
guided mini-coach tours of the park • climb Mitiamo Rock
evening presentations • guided wildflower walks
birding sessions • free tea and coffee available
static displays • native plant display
CAMPING SITES AVAILABLE • DAY VISITORS WELCOME
All activities are based at (or leave from) the Davies homestead site, Mitiamo-Kow
Swamp Road, in a grassland section of the park. GPS: 36º 05’ 55”S; 144º 17’ 02”E.
BYO food and camping equipment. Morning & afternoon tea supplied.
Enquiries: 5480 9254
This free event is part of the Naturally Loddon Spring Festival
Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, September 2019 Page 714th annual Terricks Activities Weekend: program
This draft program is subject to alteration and is illustrative only
FRIDAY 4th October 2019
From 2.00 pm approx: Time to set up camp sites. Wildflower display, posters and art work in machinery shed
Videos may be screened in the room at the northern end of Bernie’s Shed
3.00 pm Mini-bus tour of the Terricks Forest – Reigel Rock
6.00 pm Dinner break (dinner not supplied)
7.00 pm Official welcome: Jill Millsom, Convener, Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park Inc.
7.10 pm Presentations – Jill Millsom and Ian Mellier: a trip to Western Australia
7.45 pm Presentation – Shari Rankin: Victoria’s Northern Plains Grasslands
SATURDAY 5th October 2019
All day: Plant and poster displays in machinery shed
All day (if wet): wet weather presentations
7.15 am “Early morning birding in Terricks Forest” (mini bus) with Audrey Dickins
9.45 am Morning tea (supplied)
10.00 am Guided mini-bus tour and nature walks with Matt Comer – Allen Track and Mitiamo Rock
10.00 Working Bee
12.30 pm Lunch (not supplied)
1.15 pm Grassland walk with Matt Comer
2.15 pm Guided bus tour (roads & weather permitting) – Rogers Track
2.15 pm Working Bee
4.15 (approx) Afternoon tea (supplied)
4.30 “Free time”
5.30 pm Dinner (not supplied)
6.45 pm Annual General Meeting of the Friends of TTNP Inc.
7.15 pm Parks Victoria Report: Tim Schwinghammer
7.30 pm Presentation - Bael Bael NCR: Tim Schwinghammer
7.45 pm 8.15 pm Presentation – Dan Nugent: Victoria’s Northern Plains Grasslands & Plains-wanderer
8.15 pm Presentation – Gayle Osborne (Wombat Forest)
9.15 pm Supper and “Night Music”
SUNDAY 6th October 2019
Note: summer savings times
All morning: Wildflower, student art and poster displays in machinery shed
7.15 am Breakfast (not supplied)
In case of wet weather only, there will be presentations in the machinery shed during the morning.
9.15 am Mystery mni-bus tour AND/OR Grasslands Wildflower Walk (depending on seasonal conditions)
AND/OR Working Bee
12.30 pm Lunch (not supplied)
1.30pm: End of activities. Dismantling of displays, signs, etc
~ times and events are subject to change ~
In addition to “registering”, participants are asked to print their name on the separate sheet for each activity
they wish to partake in. Those wishing to “do their own thing” away from the Davies homestead are asked to
“sign out”.
BASE: Bernie’s Shed, Davies Homestead site , Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Road (south of Jungaburra Road) Terrick Terrick
(VicRoads Map 30 F3) Note: Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Road, which runs roughly parallel to Bendigo Creek, is not labelled in
VicRoads Directory 7. GPS: 36º 05’ 55”S; 144º 17’ 02”E. Look for directional signs.
All coach tours, mini-bus tours, nature walks, bird-watching sessions, wildflower walks, etc. depart from the Davies
homestead site, Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Road, in a grassland section of the Park.
All presentations and meetings are to be at the Davies homestead site.
Free camp sites will be available near the homestead from 2pm Friday until 1pm Sunday.
BYO food, drinking water and tent/van. On Saturday, morning and afternoon tea is to be provided.
This is a free event. Small donations or membership renewals are welcome to help us cover costs.
!
Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, September 2019 Page 8
!Notice of Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park Inc. is to be held from 6.45 pm on Saturday 5th October 2019 in “Bernie’s Shed”, Davies homestead site, Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Road TERRICK TERRICK. All committee positions are to be declared vacant. Nominations are now open for the following positions: Convener, Deputy Convener, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and General Committee Members. Some nominations have already been received (e.g. for Convener, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, two other committee positions) but your executive is keen to attract new committee members. Especially if you reside in the vicinity of the park, please consider standing. The present committee is keen to welcome “new faces” to the committee. ........................................................................................................................................................................... Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park Incorporated Nomination Form Name of person being nominated: ______________________________________________ Circle position/s the person is being nominated for: Convener • Deputy Convener • Secretary • Assistant Secretary • Treasurer • Committee Member Mover (must be a financial member): _____________________________________________ Seconder (must be a financial member): __________________________________________ Acceptance of nomination/s (signature of nominee): _________________________________ Nominations (with the name of the mover and seconder, and agreed to by the nominee) should be forwarded (e.g. in person, by mail or email) to the Secretary, Friends of the TTNP Inc, 11 Hillview Avenue MOAMA 2731 as soon as possible. If, prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM), no nomination is received for a position, nominations can be made from the floor during the AGM provided, however, that the nominated person agrees to accept the position. In addition, the new committee may co-opt a member onto the committee. ........................................................................................................................................................................... Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park Incorporated Nomination Form Name of person being nominated: ______________________________________________ Circle position/s the person is being nominated for: Convener • Deputy Convener • Secretary • Assistant Secretary • Treasurer • Committee Member Mover (must be a financial member): _____________________________________________ Seconder (must be a financial member): __________________________________________ Acceptance of nomination/s (signature of nominee): _________________________________ Nominations (with the name of the mover and seconder, and agreed to by the nominee) should be forwarded (e.g. in person, by mail or email) to the Secretary, Friends of the TTNP Inc, 11 Hillview Avenue MOAMA 2731 as soon as possible. If, prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM), no nomination is received for a position, nominations can be made from the floor during the AGM provided, however, that the nominated person agrees to accept the position. In addition, the new committee may co-opt a member onto the committee. .......................................................................................................................................................................... Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, September 2019 Page 9
A brief history of the Terricks area
• Helen Stevens is a keen student of the history of the Terricks area. Helen was one of the presenters the 2012 Friends of
TTNP Weekend. The following condensed summary of her presentation was published in our March 2013 newsletter. Ed.
A boundary Closer Settlement
The area now occupied by Terrick Terrick National Park was Closer settlement began in the early 1870s. Folk could
at the boundary of Dja Dja Wurrung and Barapa Barapa select 320 acres. The forested area was larger in area than
aboriginal groups. The clan Terrick it is today and had no roads through it.
lived in the area.
The township of Mitiamo was established alongside Bendigo
John Terrick ~ the picture of him Creek (then called Piccaninny Creek) to the east of its
was extracted from a painting in present location.
the Pyramid Hill Museum ~ was one
of the last full-blood aboriginals. He
died at Correnderrk settlement in
1921. Evidence of their occupation
is still evident in scar trees and stone tools.
Squatters took up selections in the mid nineteenth century.
Early runs included Terrick Terrick, Terrick East, Terrick West,
Serpentine, Pine Grove, Tandarra, Mt Hope and Serpentine,
names still used for the districts today.
One local homestead, Prairie Park, was built about 1874 by
Austin Mack and has been fully restored by Fay and John
Forbes. Like most station homesteads, it was built close to
Bendigo Creek. Unfortunately Prairie Park and other
homesteads have therefore suffered from flooding.
Terrick Terrick Station McKAY’S BOOT SHOP, OLD MITIAMO
Terrick Terrick homestead was constructed of red bricks that Source: an album of the late Agnes Morrison
were made on the property. The Bourke and Wills expedition
stayed there for two nights in 1860. The hallway was large That site was abandoned when the railway was constructed,
and some buildings were moved to the township’s present
enough to host wedding breakfasts.
location. Several hotels were established along roads to
cater for thirsty horses and thirsty travellers.
The Davies family arrives
THOMAS DAVIES [pronounced Davis] was from Llanerissent,
seven miles from Cardiff in Wales. With his wife Elizabeth
and young son Edwin, they came out aboard the “SS Marco
Polo,” on an unassisted passage, and were short of food.
Assisted passengers had a tougher time.
In 1872, Thomas Davies selected land south of the Terrick
Terrick township and, in April 1873, brought his family from
Ballarat where they had been mining. They came after
TERRICK TERRICK STATION HOMESTEAD hearing of great land bordering the Mt. Hope Station. The
For many years, the homestead was owned by the Twigg grass was very high because Griffith and Green (managers
Family. Today, descendants own land at Bears Lagoon, site of of Mt Hope) only had one thousand sheep at the time. It
the Bears Lagoon dog races often referred to on the radio took two months to come from Ballarat with horses and
program “Australian All Over”. The kitchen and maids drays. Some slept in a spring dray. The Davies brought
quarters is the last station building still standing. stock and furniture with them.
Mount Hope Station Thomas had built a log hut of four rooms for his family. A
One of the oldest remaining homesteads in the area is Mount division between two rooms was a carpet. He opened a store
Hope homestead. A red brick house was built first. Later, a and hotel in 1873. The house and store were near the now-
granite stone house was constructed to entertain guests who, dead pepper trees half way down the hill on the right, facing
in the early years, including a Governor who came on a south at the site of St Luke’s church.
kangaroo hunt. For many years, the homestead was owned
by our convener, Jill Millsom. The homestead is being
restored by its present owner, Dr. Barker.
Above: THE DAVIES STORE (artist unknown)
LEFT: MOUNT HOPE HOMESTEAD
Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, March 2019 Page 10A brief history of the Terricks area (continued)
The Terrick Terrick School
Prior to the construction of a school, classes were held in a
building at back of Davies’ Store; seats were bags of grain.
After the Terrrick Terrick school closed, the Davies family
moved to Bendigo to educate their family, moving back
when Sylvaterre school opened in 1913. It was then that the
present house was built. The bar from the hotel was moved
and became the lounge room of the present house.
The last member of the family to live in the house was Ms.
Dorothy Davies. She moved to Bendigo when the property
was sold to become part of Terrick Terrick National Park. Ms
Davies was well enough to attend the opening of the
national park but passed away a few weeks later.
Terrick Terrick School (Number 1721) opened in 1876.
(The house fell into a state of disrepair and a few years ago Students are pictured above in front of the school; there
it was demolished. Ed.) was a residence behind. One year, 72 pupils attended.
St. Lukes church, Terrick Terrick Terrick Terrick School Number 1721 closed in 1902. The
From 1874 through to 1948, a church, St. Luke’s, operated building was moved by Reigel’s traction engine to Mologa
at Terrick Terrick. Its seating capacity was for a 100 or East (#1836) and used as a class room until 1926.
more: it was usually filled for Sunday Mass, with When it was dismantled by Robert Pickles & Sons, the
parishioners travelling long distances in horse-drawn timber (all red gum) was used in the construction of their
vehicles or on horseback. woolshed.
A story is told of when rains came after the 1914 drought, The Ferris family was one of the pioneers of the Terricks
the McIntyre family, who lived out east on the Terrick plains, area. Their original mud brick home is pictured below.
set off to attend Mass at St Luke’s in a horse-drawn buggy.
The roads were so boggy, and the horses in such poor
condition after the drought, that they became exhausted:
the family had to leave the conveyance and walk the last few
miles to be present at Mass. On wet days, Jim Ferris was
always at the ready to extract parishioners from a bog: often
it was Father Cremmins who sought help.
The church was moved to the grounds of St Patrick’s,
Pyramid Hill for use as a hall. However white ants moved in
and it was demolished during the 1990s. The beautiful altar
were moved to St Domonic’s, Dingee. The altar is now in the
Rochester Catholic Church.
Pictured in 1940, Mel Ferris used to grade local roads using
horses.
Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, March 2019 Page 11A brief history of the Terricks area (continued)
Editor’s note: There were a number of schools and churches
in the area prior to World War Two. Most of the roads in the
vicinity of the national park and Mologa (an aboriginal name)
are named after pioneering families. Helen spoke about
many of the pioneering families, including the Reigel, Marlow
and Ferris families. Reigel Rock is named after one of the
pioneering families. Sometime during the 1930s, the Reigel
family had a clearing sale. Helen continues her brief history.
Mologa school children were given a holiday as their teacher
had not been to a clearing sale. Reigels were well- known;
folk would have come from afar for a look...
THE OLD STABLES OF ALF FERRIS
The old stable of Alf Ferris has walls of pine thinnings.
Trees were thinned out to allow others to grow big.
Cattle and sheep yards were also made with thinnings.
The Mitiamo Races
Races were held every year and were well-patronised.
REIGEL ROCK Photo: Helen Stevens
Some horses were brought to Mitiamo by train and walked
In the early days of settlement, Charles & Sarah Marlow the three miles to the race course.
lived at Mologa, on the west of the forest, and had land near
The commit
Reigel’s Rock on the east side. He told of how when riding
his horse through the forest he could see over the tops of
the pine trees. Five of their six sons went to WW1: only two
came home.
SEMI-PERMANENT WATER HOLE NEAR REIGEL
Photo: Helen Stevens
This large semi permanent water hole near Reigel’s Rock
would have been of great value to the aborigines.
Farmers in the surrounding area have fought to keep the
forest intact on two occasions at least.
In 1890s when settlers’ families were beginning to look for
more land there were rumblings about clearing some of it
and a big public meeting decided to keep the forest as it was
and again after WW1 there was talk of soldier settlement
blocks. At a public meeting Will Hopper moved, seconded by
Sam Davies, that the forest be kept as is. • Unless otherwise attributed, photos used in this article ~ and much of
Since closer settlement in the 1870s, the forest has been
the information ~ is from records held by the Pyramid Hill & District
maintained and farmed for the use of farmers... (Murray Historical Society (in Pyramid Hill Museum). We thank the Society for
Pine was used for fencing, water tank stands and buildings). permission to make use of their material.
The big plus about the Murray Pine is that white ants do not
touch it.
Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, December 2018 Page 12From September 2014 newsletter From December 2014 newsletter
Global significance of Plains- Terrick Terrick volunteers
win Kookaburra Award
wanderer A group of volunteers who assist with night-
time fauna surveys within Terrick Terrick
by Dr. John Morgan, LaTrobe University National Park have won a coveted Kookaburra
Award.
The Plains-wanderer has for some time been known to be a member of
For many years, the team has conducted
Australia’s ancient avifauna and its nearest, albeit distant, relatives are
occasional (usually quarterly) night-time
Seedsnipe from South America. It is the sole member of a Family of birds
surveys along transects within some of the
called the Pedionomidae. It's a species typically confined to native grassland
Park’s grassland paddocks.
habitats in eastern Australia and, unfortunately, one of the most endangered
species of those grasslands. It should be a flagship for conservation and new Mark Antos of Parks Victoria volunteered to
research tells us why! lead the team and prepare survey reports.
Survey members have included Fred Belli,
Recently, Jetz et al. (2014) published a major review of the world’s 9,993
John Childs, Bill McGillivray, David Ong, Jenny
recognised bird species to determine which species we can least afford to lose Spence, Russell Shawcross (who provided his
in the current extinction crisis if maximum global phylogenetic diversity is to own vehicle) and Mark Tscharke.
be maintained. Phylogenetic diversity is a measure of biodiversity which
incorporates phylogenetic differences between species. Phylogenetic analyses
have become essential to research on the evolutionary tree of life. The
concept of phylogenetic diversity has been rapidly adopted in conservation
planning.
Jetz et al. (2014) developed a hierarchy based on how isolated a species is on
the phylogenetic tree which they termed ‘evolutionary distinctness’. They also
included global geographic range, and global endangerment in their
metrics. The summary metric that Jetz et al. (2014) used to rank the world’s
birds combines evolutionary distinctness and extinction risk. By their
calculation, the Plains-wanderer is ranked #1 among Australian birds and #4
in the world!
”The summary metric ... used to rank the world’s birds combines evolutionary
distinctness and extinction risk. By their calculation, the Plains-wanderer is
ranked #1 among Australian birds and #4 in the world!”
VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF THE AWARD-
As such, these analyses highlight we can ill-afford to lose the species, yet WINNING TEAM L to R: David Ong, Jenny
current data suggest that significant declines are being observed, and it's notSpence, Russell Shawcross, Fred Belli,
entirely clear why. Malcolm Brown, John Childs, Mark Antos, Pip
The two strongholds of the Plains-wanderer are the semi-arid (or xeric) native Kelpie.
grasslands of the Riverina region of NSW and Victoria’s Northern On the Saturday of our 2014 Activities
Plains. Monitoring in NSW during 2001-2012 has found that the population Weekend, the award was presented by Parks
size has declined by 75% during droughts, then recovered slightly during Victoria’s acting ranger-in-charge Murray
benign years, and was then recorded at record low levels during the very wet Riverine region, Neville Wells.
years of 2011-12. The population has remained at very low levels for over a
Fauna observed during the surveys has
decade, and this is cause for considerable concern. In Victoria there has been
included Barn Owl, Curl Snake, Fat-tailed
monitoring on Terrick Terrick NP and nearby private land over five years
Dunnart, Australasian Pipit, Rufous Songlark
(2010-14). Numbers declined by >90% during 2011-12 in the wet years
and Legless Lizard.
(perhaps because breeding was negatively affected, while thickening of
grasslands has reduced occupiable habitat) and the numbers have remained During the 2013 Activities Weekend, the team
historically low. observed a Plains-wanderer in Terrick Terrick
National Park. During the past year, three
If ever there was a need to monitor the dynamics of a species of conservation
individual Plains-wanderers in a neighbouring
concern, whilst also monitoring its habitat suitability and key determinants of
privately-owned, grazed grassland paddock.
mortality risk (e.g. predation), then the Plains-wanderer would seem an
essential candidate species. Good, basic scientific research is needed to Since the 2013 Activities Weekend, the team,
answer simple questions: how long do birds live; are population dynamics despite many long searches, failed to observe
cyclic; can suitable habitat be successfully created from scratch? In some any Plains-wanderers within the Park until
respects, a metric of the success of grassland conservation and management 21st November 2014 when two juvenile
will be that species like the Plains-wanderers can be maintained in their Plains-wanderers were observed in the Park.
habitat, and that their numbers grow rather than decline.
Thanks to David Baker-Gabb for alerting me to the evolutionary
distinctiveness of the Plains-wanderer and for providing information on the
population trends of this species.
Left: FEMALE PLAINS-WANDERER
Photo: Dr. John Morgan
• Dr Morgan’s article was!reprinted!with!
permission!from!Dr!Morgan’s!blog!
http://morganvegdynamics.blogspot.com.
au/2014/
Friends of the TTNP Newsletter, March 2019 Page 132019-20 membership application/renewal form
Annual membership fee: $20 per person or $30 per couple with the same email address.
If you wish to become a member of the Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park Incorporated, please fill in this form,
and mail it, along with a not-negotiable cheque (payable to “Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park Incorporated”), to
The Secretary, Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park Inc., 11 Hillview Avenue MOAMA NSW 2731.
Unless you supply stamped self-addressed business-sized envelopes, we send newsletters and updates by
email only - so please clearly print your email address below.
New members must complete this form. As we are an incorporated body, by law new membership applications are
subject to approval by the committee. Attach a cheque with your application.
Should you wish to renew your membership by direct funds transfer, our bank account details are as follows:
Bank Name: Bendigo Bank • Account title: Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park Inc • BSB: 633-000 • Account No:
143079945
So that we know you have renewed your membership, please make sure that you include your name on the transfer form.
Memberships renewed now remain current until the 2020 Friends Weekend.
Name: _____ _________________________ ____________________________________
Title Given Name/s Surname
Street/P O Box: __________________________ Town/Locality ___________________________ Postcode: _ _ _ _
Email address: _______________________________________ Telephone Number: _________________________
I agree to comply with the rules of the Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park Incorporated.
Signature of member/applicant: ____________________________________
Please print clearly (this is especially important for your email address – case sensitive).
Disclosure: The names and addresses of members are forwarded to Landcare Victoria. Friends of the TTNP affiliates with
Landcare Victoria, partly to obtain public liability insurance protection. Members may receive occasional magazines from Landcare
Victoria either electronically and/or by mail.
Your 2018-19 Committee 14th annual
Jill Millsom (Convener)
Fred Belli (Treasurer) FRIENDS WEEKEND
John Childs (group’s photographer) Davies homestead site, Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Rd
Audrey Dickins
Jenny Emonson Terrick Terrick National Park
Jill Hayes (granted indefinite leave)
Ian Mellier 2.30pm Friday 4th October to
Jenny Spence (Assistant Secretary) noon Sunday 6th October 2019
Keith Stockwell (Secretary)
Mark Tscharke • wildflower display and walks
• mini-bus tours of the park
Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park (ABN • evening presentations
251 663 376) is incorporated in Victoria and is a • working bees
member of Landcare Victoria and an associate of • camping sites available
both the Northern Plains Conservation • early-morning bird-watching
Management Network and the Loddon Plains • nature walks
Landcare Network. • Annual General Meeting - Saturday night
Newsletter contributions may be emailed to Free event
stocky@mcmedia.com.au ENQUIRIES: 5480 9254
Our annual activities weekend is a component of stocky@mcmedia.com.au
Loddon Shire’s Naturally Loddon Spring Festival. A COMPONENT OF THE 2019 NATURALLY LODDON SPRING
FESTIVALYou can also read
